How long is the unemployment process from filing to first payment in NY?
I just got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant and need to file for unemployment benefits. I've never done this before and I'm really confused about how long everything takes. From what I can see on the NYS Department of Labor website, there are multiple steps but they don't give clear timeframes. How long does it typically take from when you first file your claim until you actually receive your first unemployment payment? I need to plan my budget and figure out if I should be looking for temporary work while waiting. Any idea how long the whole unemployment process usually takes in New York?
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Luca Conti
The unemployment process timeline varies but here's what you can generally expect: Initial claim filing takes about 30 minutes online. NYS Department of Labor will review your claim which typically takes 1-2 weeks if there are no issues. You'll need to file weekly claims starting the week after you apply. If your claim goes into adjudication (which happens when they need to verify employment details), add another 2-4 weeks. First payment usually comes 2-3 weeks after approval if you've been filing your weekly claims consistently. So overall, 3-6 weeks from filing to first payment is normal.
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Zara Ahmed
•Thanks! That's really helpful. What causes a claim to go into adjudication? I want to avoid delays if possible.
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Nia Johnson
just went through this myself, took me about 4 weeks total but i had some issues with my previous employer disputing the claim. if everything is straightforward with your termination it should be faster
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CyberNinja
One thing that speeds up the process significantly is having all your documentation ready when you file. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months including exact dates and gross wages, and your bank account information for direct deposit. The NYS Department of Labor system will ask for specific details about why you're unemployed, so be precise - 'lack of work' is different from 'laid off due to company downsizing' in their system.
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Mateo Lopez
•Wait, I thought you only needed the last 12 months of work history? I've been unemployed before and that's what I used.
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CyberNinja
•They ask for 18 months to determine your base period wages, but if you've worked consistently at one job for over a year, you might not need all 18 months of details. Better to have more information than not enough though.
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Aisha Abdullah
The NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely terrible if you need to check on your claim status. I spent weeks trying to get through just to ask a simple question about my claim. If you're having trouble reaching them, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor in under 10 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when my claim was stuck in processing.
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Ethan Davis
•Interesting, never heard of that service before. Did they charge you anything for helping you get through?
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Aisha Abdullah
•Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it compared to the hours I wasted trying to call myself. When you're waiting for benefits to pay rent, getting answers quickly is worth the cost.
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Yuki Tanaka
don't forget you have to do the job search requirements too, that starts right away even while your claim is being processed. three job contacts per week minimum or they can deny your weekly claim
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Mateo Lopez
I'm so stressed about this whole thing! What if I make a mistake on my application? What if my employer lies about why I was terminated? What if the NYS Department of Labor decides I don't qualify? There are so many things that could go wrong and I really need these benefits to survive until I find another job.
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Luca Conti
•Take a deep breath! As long as you were laid off through no fault of your own and you worked enough hours, you should qualify. Just be honest and accurate on your application. Even if there are issues, you have the right to appeal any negative decisions.
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Nia Johnson
the whole system is designed to make it as difficult as possible to get benefits. they hope you'll just give up and find a job before they have to pay you anything. but stick with it, you paid into this system and you deserve the benefits
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Zara Ahmed
•That's pretty discouraging but I appreciate the honesty. I definitely can't afford to give up so I'll just have to be patient with the process.
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